Nick Clegg on Lord Rennard: 'no apology, no whip'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg says he "doesn't think it's appropriate"
that Lord Rennard should be sitting in the House of Lords without an apology
to the women in his party offended by his alleged behaviour

11:41AM GMT 20 Jan 2014

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said it would not be "appropriate" for Lord Rennard to return to his party's ranks in the House of Lords without first apologising to the women who claim he sexually harassed them, warning the under-fire peer: "No apology, no whip."

Mr Clegg's authority faces a major challenge today, as Lord Rennard plans to take up his place in the Upper House and his legal adviser threatens legal action if the whip is not reinstated.

Lord Rennard strenuously denies the allegations against him and has refused to apologise, after an inquiry by senior barrister Alistair Webster QC found that the women's claims were credible but could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

Mr Clegg said that if the whip was restored to the party's former chief executive without any apology, it would be "in defiance" of his authority. And he warned: "Clearly, if it were to happen, matters would not rest there."

The Deputy Prime Minister told ITV1's Daybreak: "What is on the line here is basic decency. When you have caused offence and distress to other people, even if it doesn't end up in the hands of the police or the courts, basic decency suggests you should apologise.

"That is what Lord Rennard has been asked to do after a formal investigation and a process - recommended by an independent QC. I really think he needs to do that.

"I don't think it is appropriate that he should be sitting in the House of Lords if he hasn't provided that apology - no apology, no whip, if you like.

"That is my view, it is the view of many party members and it is the view of the person who did that formal inquiry on the party's behalf. I very much hope that he - and other colleagues of his in the House of Lords - will listen to that and make sure that the apology is issued, so that people who have been subjected to behaviour which did cause them distress at least get that from him."

Liberal Democrat chief whip Lord Newby and the party's leader in the Upper House, Lord Wallace, can decide to withhold the whip from Lord Rennard.